One Baptist church has been badly damaged and a number of Baptists left homeless by the earthquake that affected Spain on May 11.
The buildings of First Baptist Church, Lorca, which was just recently constructed, and the Good Shepherd Mission were damaged by the 5.1 earthquake that caused significant damage in the Region of Murcia in southern Spain.
“The facade and interior walls and partitions have been badly damaged,” wrote Daniel Banyuls, director of Social Action Ministries of the Union of Evangelical Baptists of Spain. “Our Baptist work has been seriously affected by the earthquake, but there was no personal injury.”
Baptists were left homeless by the tremor that had caused panic among locals and displaced many from their homes. More than 40 families of First, Lorca, including the pastor, lost their homes or fled houses that were badly damaged. Some 90 percent of the congregation has been affected.
At the Good Shepherd Mission, “70 percent of the brothers are homeless after spending the first night in emergency tents,” Banyuls reported. In both congregations, members are staying with family, friends and other church members.
Banyuls expressed gratitude for the support shown by Baptists in Spain and other countries. “We continue to receive e-mails and telephone calls from Spain and abroad inquiring about the situation and consulting on how to help. On behalf of our churches in Lorca, thank you. We continue to pray for them.”
The Union of Evangelical Baptists of Spain is a member organization of the Baptist World Alliance. (BWA)
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